Sleeping car



Dec. 2, 1930. c. w. PFLAGER SLEEPING CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1927 Dec. 2, 1.930. c. PFLAGER' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 SLEEPING CAR Filed Sept. 26, 1927 Dec. 2, 1930.

C. -W. PFLAGER SLEEPING CAR Filed Sept. 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIII I Patented Dec; 2, 1930 Winner-Ares PATENT; OFFICE .CHARLES W. IPFLAGER, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PULLMAN COM- IPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SLEEPING CAR Application filed September 26,1927. Serial No. 221,999.

The invention relates to head board partitions used in railway slee in cars for se 10 A further object is to afford a measure of privacy to'the passengers occupying the section seats when the berths are closed.

A still further object is toavoid the use of the removable headboards heretofore employedand which were mounted 'and' locked in position upon the seat-backs when berths were made up, and removed and stowed away in the pockets between the bunks and lower decks of the carat other times. 7 In practicing my invention, I arrange the partition at each double seat-back and between the ends of adjacent bunks. The partitions thusappl'ied are positioned preferably under the transverse transom members of the car and provide pilaster elements in the decorative treatment of the car interior. The partitions are fixed to the side wall framing of the car, to the transorns at their upper ends, and'to the seat back stiffening plates at their lower margins; the

front edges of the fixed portions of the partitions are open to receive a supplemental partition section slidably mounted upon the seat back rail and guided within the pocket 0f the fixed section. Intheir collapsed cond'ition the partitions extend from the arched underside of the transverse transom mem hers to a point intermediate the ends of the respectively adjacent seat backs and provlde greater security to the occupants of the sec tion and some privacy when the berths are Theiforegoing. andother objects are at- ,showing tained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view'of the partition in collapsed condition, showing its extended position in broken lines Fig. 2 is a front elevational viewof the same; I

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direc- 'tion indicated by the arrows, and drawn to a larger scale.- j

Fig. t is a similar View on a still larger scale taken on line 4;--4 of Fig.6, looking in the direction indicated by thef arrows and the dampening and centering spring at the lower margin of thesliding section of the partition;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower portion of the fixed section of the partition showing in dotted lines the short supporting channel section; v

F 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 66 of 1, looking in the di-. rection indicated by the arrows, showing the fixed and-slidable portions of the partition in assembled relation with the seat back top railand sliding section support channel.

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows showingthel relation of the parts adjacent the front edge of the fixed section of the partition;

Fig.8 is a similar view taken on line 88 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the slidable section runway and support on the seat back and a section through the forward lower marginof the slidable section of the partition;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation'al view-of curtain attaching hooks secured on opposite sides of the slidable section of the partition for the sliding and adjacent the front moulding strip;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken online 10 10 of Fig.9, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the method of fitting the curtain hooks'to the slidablesection'ofthe partition;

Figpll is a side elevational view of the upper portion of the partition and contiguill) ill

ous portion of a transverse transom and the capital moulding at the junction of said elements;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section takon on line 12-12 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the method of joining the upper margin of the partition with adjacent transverse transom, and the dampening spring assembly within the slidable section;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the plaster moulding at the front margin of the fixed section of the partition with the slidable section partially extended to show the mounting of the dampening and centering spring;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the bunk latch and pivot supporting embossment on the partition on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1515 of Fig. 1% showing the extended embossment structure forming the joint between the single and double wall portions of the partition;

Fig. 16 is a. horizontal sectional view taken on line 1616 of Fig. 14, showing the application of the berth latch within the ex tended embossment;

Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 17-17 of Fig. 14, showing the meth d of reinforcing the lower portion of the extended embossment to provide a suitable bearing for the berth pivot;

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale, showing the application of lock to the lower outer corner of the slidable section of the partition and with lock engaging the lower slide bracket on the seat back end;

F 19 is a side elevational view of the upper margin of sliding section of the partition with portion of the side plate broken away to show the centering spring assembly.

The partitions are preferably made up of sheet metal plates 10 spaced apart to admit sliding section 15 between them and are connected together and to the seat back stiffening plate 11 by means of Z-shaped pieces 12 as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, and further connected by channel or Z-shaped pieces 13 and 14 in the areas above the seat back as shown in Fig. 1. The plates 10 are also secured to the side wall by screws 16 or other means taking marginal reinforcing channel 17, inner side wall plate 20, and wall plate stiffener 21. To provide a support for the sliding section 15, a short channel piece 18 is introduced between Z-shaped pieces 12 to engage the rear end of said section in all of its positions to supplement the support afforded the front portion of the section by the lowor slide bracket 19 at the front end of the seat back rail 22, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 8, and 18.

The partitions are secured to respectively contiguous transverse transoms and the side deck sill 4 adjacent the upper moulding 65 by connections 66 preferably of channel configuration as indicated in Fig. 12; the channels 66 are connected by welding to par tition plates 10, their respective side flange portions 67 rising upwardly and beyond said partition plates for interlocking engagement with similar plates 68 of the transverse transom structures, the flanges 67 and plates (58 being further secured against separation by screws or the like, tapped into said parts. As a part of the decorative treatn'icnt of the car interior the opposite faces of the partitions adjacent their respective front edges are fitted with mouldings 7O welded or other wise secured to the partition plates as best shown in Figs. 3 and 13, giving the pilaster effect hereinbefore noted. Upon the inner faces of partition plates 10 in the areas spanned by the outer mouldings 70, reinforcing plates 71 are secured to stiffen the partitions at their front edge portions. Between the plates 10 thus connected is inserted the sliding section of the partition assembly.

The section 15 is preferably formed with a broad tail-board base portion 9 extending rearwardly from the front edge of the section and a relatively narrow upright portion 8 rising upwardly to a point adjacent the roof arches, the dotted lines 8 and 9 indicated in Fig. 1, representing the rear contour of the sliding section 15 in extended position. The section is made up of two plates 24 spaced apart and connected by filler strips 23 bordering the margins of the section and elscwhere disposed within the section area. Certain of the fillers are made to project rearwardly in the plane of the section as ind icated at 25 to engage reinforcing and spacing strips 14- and 27 connecting plates 10 of the partition as will presently appear; one filler 25 ex tends with its end projecting through opening 26 in the upright reinforcing strip 1 1 and another between horizontally disposed strips 27 to prevent vertical displacement of the section and possible canting thereof during withdrawal of the section for the purposes hereinbefore outlined. The projecting filler strip 25 supplements the tail-board base portion 9 of the section to prevent excessive or objectionable side sway of adjacent upper portion thereof when extended for use. As shown in Figs. 3 and 10, section 15 is provided with a moulding strip 29 extending from the upper edge of the section to a point adjacent the bottom thereof as best shown in Fig. 18, at which point the strip connects with a section lock 30 secured to the section at its lower outer corner in position to engage the keeper bracket 19 .on the seat back rail ing strip 29, section is fitted with berth curtain hooks 33 arranged within the planes of the opposite sides of the section. In the present embodiment, the section is preferably cut out immediately back of the moulding strip to receive a curtain hook base plate 34 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The opening is framed by reinforcing filler pieces 35 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9. The curtain hooks 33 may be either rigid with the frame 34, or spring snap hooks as shown, the pivoted type hook indicated in the figure being preferred; the hooks shown are held within pockets 36 of the frame 34 by tension springs 37 coiled about pivot rod or rods 38 with theirrespective opposite ends engaging said hooks and frame. V To prevent chattering of the sections 15 upon the side wall plates 10 of the fixed partition sections and to minimize the friction between them, the movable sections 15 are further provided at their respective upper and lower edges with shockabsorbing and centering runner frames 40 as best shown in Figs. 4 to 7, and 11 to 13, both inclusive. The frames 40 are channel shaped and arranged to fit about said edges and are secured to the sections preferably by welding; the frames are each made up of the channel piece 41 and the reinforcing and wear strips 42 welded to the channel flanges as shown in Figs. 6 and 7; the flanges and wear strips 42 are perforated as at 39 in these figures to receive the laterally bulged cushioning clip springs 43 operatively held within the recesses 39 by screw stud posts 44 rising from the base of the runner channels 41 to engage the opposite free ends 45 of the respective springs 43. The stud posts hold the springs apart under tension to provide the necessary resistance to pressure upon the protruding bulged portions of the springs, as will be understood.

Traversing the upper areas of the section partitions and defining the contour of contiguous bunks 6 are the extended embossments shown in Figs. 14 to 17, both inclusive, forming the joint between the single and double wall portions of the partition as best indicated in Fig. 15. The single plate portions 46,0f the partitions close the ends of pockets 47 formed by and between the lower deck 7 and the bunks and are secured to the lower deck and partition plates 10 by embossment plates 48 overlapping the single and double plate portions 46 and-10ofthe part1- tions; the plates 48 are bent toward and lap pastcontiguous edges of plates 46 as shown at 49 and preferably secured by welding.

The opposite edges of plates 48 are provided with inwardly directed flanges 51 interlocking with and otherwise secured to holding pieces 52 welded to plates 10 of the partition. To stiffen adjacent edges of partition plates 10, filler channel pieces 53 conforming to the contour of the point may be used as indicated in Figs. 14 and 15; these channel pieces may be secured by welding or otherwise as in the case of filler pieces 13, 14, and 27, before noted.

The bunks are pivotally mounted and supported by the partitions, and embossments 50 utilized for the purpose of housing the bunk pivot bearings 55 and berth latch bolts as illustrated in Figs. 1, 14, 16, and 17. To provide a bearing for the bunk pivot (not shown) the embossment plates 48 are formed adjacent the side wall 20 with open end slots 54 transversely of their width as best shown in Fig. 14, the slots being reinforced by slotted plates 56 as indicated in Fig. 17, to provide additional bearing area for the bunk pivots. -The berth latches 60 are disposed within said embossments at points adjacent lower deck 7 and the side edges of the bunks 6 to support the bunks in their closed position. The latches protrude from opposite faces of the embossments and are held apart by intermediate springs 57 supported upon embossments 58 formed on the underside of the respective latches which are pivotally mounted in frame portions 59 and 61 held in assembled relation with each other and the embossments by screws 62 tapped into one of said frame portions, as best shown in Fig. 16. The latches 60 are each provided withv limit stops 63 for engagement with the respective frames 59 and 61 to prevent excessive movement outwardly of the latches and to afford fixed abutments for opposite ends of springs 57 to permit separate operation of the latches 60 and independent release and locking of adjacent bunks. The latches are depressed to release the bunks by plunger mechanism (not shown) mounted on the bunks and manipulated by the attendant when the bunks .1

are to be lowered.

In operation, assuming the partitions to be in the locked collapsed condition shown in full lines in Fig. 1, with the bunks raised,'the sliding sections 15 are first unlocked by the attendant and pulled outwardly untilplungers 31 of the locks 30 have entered their respective sockets 31? of the keeper brackets 19 .on the seat back rail 22 as shown in Fig. 18,

whereupon the bunks may be lowered and 1 prepared for occupancy, and the berth curtains attached to the hooks 33. In the locked extended position of the partitions greater security is afforded occupants of the sec tions from designed or accidental interfer- Z til ence by persons in adjoining sections. To restore the sections to a condition for seating the passengers, the berth curtains are removed and the berths folded up out of the way, and the extended partitions unlocked by the attendant and collapsed with the several slidable sections 15 locked within their respective positions between plates 10 of the fixed sections of the partitions.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The con'ibination with the seats and bunks of a sleeping car and the like, of a collapsible partition comprising a pair of plates spaced apart and extending upwardly from said seats, bunk SHIJPOltlDg and latching elements mounted between said plates. :1 slidable extension sup iorted by said seats and movable between said plates, and embossments formed in said plates for housing said hunk supporting and latching elements.

2. The combination with the transverse roof transoms and lower deck of a sleeping car, of a plurality of partitions fixed transversely ot the car and severally comprising connected pairs of plates spaced apart and secured to the respective car sides and transoms, embossment plates forming bulged extensions of said partitions, and bunks secured to said partitions and disposed between respectively at jacent embossments.

3. The combination with the transversroof transoms, bunks, and lower deck of a sleeping car, of a plurality of partitions fixed transversely of the car and severally comprising connect-ed pairs of plates spaced apart and secured to the respective car sides and transoms, and embossment plates forming bulged extensions of said partitions and defining the contour of contiguous bunks, said bunks extending between said partitions and respectively adjacent embossn'ients.

4. The combination with the lower deck and transverse roof transorns of a sleeping car, of a plurality of partitions fixed transversely of the car and severally comprising connected pairs of plates spaced apart and secured to the respective car sides and tran soms, embossment plates forming bulged extensions of said partitions, and single panel plates entered between said embossment plates for securin said partitions to respectively adjacent portions of the lower deck.

5. The combination with the lower deck and transverse root t"ansoms of a sleeping car, of a plurality of partitions fixed transversely ot the car and severally comprising connected pairs of plates spacer apart and secured to the respective car sides and transoms, embossment plates forming bulged extensions having interlocking engagement with contiguous edges of the partition plates, and single panel plates entered between said embossment plates for securing said partitlons to respectively adjacent portions of the lower deck.

6. The combination with the lower deck and transverse root transoms of a sleeping car, of aplurality of partitions fixed transversely of the car and severally comprising connected pairs of plates spaced apart and secured to the respective car sides and transoms, einbosslnent plates forming bulged extensions of said partitions, and single panel plates entered between said embossment plates for securing said partitions to respectively adjacent portion of the lower deck, said embossment plates having their respectively contiguous edge portions bent toward and overlapping adjacent single panel plates.

7. The combination with the lower deck and transverse root transoms ot a sleeping car, and bunks spaced apart longitudinally of the car and normally spaced from the lower deck to form therewith a series of pockets, of a plurality of partitions fixed transversely of the Car between said bunks and severally comprising connected pairs oi plates spaced apart and secured to the respective car sides and transoms, einbossnient plates tormiiig bulged extensions of said partitions, and single panel plates entered between said embossment plates for securing said partitions to respectively adjacent portions of the lower deck.

8. In a sleeping car, a plurality of; partitions fixed transversely of the car, bunks extending between and connecting said partitions, and embossments formed in said partitions to house the bunk supporting and latching elements.

9. In a sleeping car, a plurality of collapsible partitions fixed transversely of the car, saat elements between said partitions, bunks supported by and connecting said. partitions above the seats, and en'ibossments formed in said partitions for housing the bunk supporting and latching elements.

10. In a sleeping car, a plurality of collapsible partitions comprising each a fixed portion rigidly secured transversely 01'? the car, a slidable extension movable with respect to said fixed portion, bunks extending between and supported by said partitions, and embossments formed in the fixed portions of said partitions for housing the bunk supporting and latching elements.

11. A collapsible partition for sleeping cars and the like comprising a fixed portion rigidly secured to the car, a slidable extension movable with respect to said fixed portion, and resilient centering means on opposite sides of said extension, said means having laterally bulged cushioning clips operatively secured to the extension and adapted for engagement with said fixed portion.

19.. In a sleeping car, the combination with the lower deck and transverse roof transoms within the car, of a plurality of bunks beneath said lower deck and spaced apart, partiloo tions fixed transversely of the car and severally comprising connected pairs of plates spaced apart to form housings secured to the respective transoms and conforming to the contours of adjacent bunks, single plate portions connecting said plates to their respective car sides between said bunks, and extensions slidable within said housings.

13. In a sleeping car, the combination with the lower deck and transverse roof transolns Within the car, of seats arranged transversely of the car, bunks beneath said lower deck and partitions connecting the respective seats and transoins and comprising severally a single plate portion defining the contours of said deck and adjacent bunks, a pair of plates spaced apart and connecting said plate to the respective seats and tra-nsoins, and an exten sion slidable between said last mentioned plates, said extension having a tail-board portion extending rearwardly from the front edge of the section and beneath the single plate portion of the partition.

In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand this 21st day of September, 1927.

CHARLES W. PFLAGER. 

